Re: Descending Icy Hills

[Porsray@aol.com]

My experience in driving in snow for the past 25 years, is that you get much 
better traction goiing DOWNHILL if the car is in a low gear and you let the
engine do the braking - this has been in either FWD or Quattro.  Under these
conditions (hopefully) your foot is off the gas and MAYBE slightly on the
brake.

Once you are back on the level or are climbing hills, then the old adage 
applies; put it in the highest gear in which it can pull smoothly.

All of this is in real he-man cars (i.e. with 3 pedals on the floor; personal
preference)

Ray Calvo (porsray@aol.com)
1990 Coupe Quattro


In a message dated 96-12-05 09:41:41 EST, you write:

<< 
 From: Shaun Mullen <smullen@philly.infi.net>
 Date: Thu, 05 Dec 1996 08:01:50 -0800
 Subject: Re: Descending Icy Hills
 
 Phil Payne wrote:
 > 
 > Slowing down is good advice.  I'm not sure about "low gear" - I was always
 > taught to be in the highest one I could manage.  If you're in a low gear,
tiny
 > throttle movements translate to large torque changes.
 
 Hmmmm.  I am going into the fifth Northeastern U.S. winter in my '92
 100CSQW and already have had two interesting ice-filled commutes this
 fall.  As in past winters, I make sure to slow way down.  And I also,
 from experience, shift into the lowest gear in my AUTOMATIC. There is a
 palpable sensation of the car crawling on the ice.  Maybe the sensation
 is between my ears, but might the parameters be different with an
 automatic vs. a five-speed?
  >>